A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare

1599

De: James Shapiro

Narrado por: James Shapiro

An intimate history of Shakespeare, following him through a single year that changed not only his fortunes but the course of literature.

How did Shakespeare go from being a talented poet and playwright to become one of the greatest writers who ever lived? In this one exhilarating year we follow what he reads and writes, what he sees, and who he works with as he invests in the new Globe Theatre and creates four of his most famous plays -- Henry V, Julius Caesar, As You Like It, and, most remarkably, Hamlet.

James Shapiro illuminates both Shakespeare's staggering achievement and what Elizabethans experienced in the course of 1599: sending off an army to crush an Irish rebellion, weathering an Armada threat from Spain, gambling on a fledgling East India Company, and waiting to see who will succeed their aging and childless Queen.

This book brings the news and intrigue of the times together with a wonderful evocation of how Shakespeare worked as an actor, businessman, and playwright. The result is an exceptionally immediate and gripping account of an inspiring moment in history.

This audio includes a selection of scenes from Henry V, Julius Caesar, As You Like It, and Hamlet featuring performances by Vanessa Redgrave, Paul Scofield, Ian Holm, and many more.

Helpful

I had to do an essay and needed to listen to speed up my work. It's well done. I enjoyed the way the material was presented with a pleasant voice and appropriate emphasis.

If you love Shakespeare

...you will love this book. Shapiro looks at Shakespeare through a new lens and focuses his and our attention on his most creatively productive year. He helps us understand what shaped the man who wrote Henry V, Julius Caesar, As You Like It and Hamlet in one amazing burst of energy.
This is a fresh and refreshing look at both the four plays and the man and his times. I reccommend this listen for anyone who loves the Bard and/or anyone who loves these four plays. The 45 minutes of excerpts from these plays by the great actors is a nice bonus at the end.

Exellent, helps one to see the context

I have read another book by this author. It is probably a good thing this one was abridged, given the author's tendency to long-windedness. This book was facinating, laying out the works of WS from 1599 in the context of the time.

The book was out of order

The entire book was out of order I would not recommend. The book itself is fantastic, but as I was following allowing the audible book would jump to different sections. For example, I wanted to read chapter four, but in place of chapter four in the audible was chapter 7!

Note!--Abridged version

What would have made A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare better?

It's all my fault for not noticing--but this is a much abridged version on audio. The reading--even though performed well (and presumably cut) by the author himself--leaves out most of the more fascinating parts of the superb book. So, I'd say this is one to do that old-fashioned thing with--read it!